Shear-Induced Hemolysis: Effects of Blood Chemistry (Including Aging in Storage) and Shearing Surfaces

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Abstract
Rotating disks were used to hemolyze blood [human] under low-stress laminar flow conditions. In the 1st sequence of tests, kinetic hemolysis curves (KHC) were obtained with polyethylene disks for 3 well-characterized bloods and repeated over a period of 4 wk. Each blood had a KHC with different shape, which maintained its characteristics while aging. Correlations were sought between D6000 (percent of complete hemolysis, after 6000 s of shear) and D0 (measured before shear) by 2 means of data analysis, in terms of blood chemistry. Uric acid and very-low-density lipoprotein levels were most useful in predicting the characteristic D6000 vs. D0 relation for each blood, and glucose levels correlated the rate of aging as measured by hemolysis. Other chemical factors were also displayed in terms of their influence on D0. The 2nd series of tests consisted of comparing the KHC for 4 disk materials using a 4th blood, then repeating with a 5th blood. Hemolytic rankings of the materials were the same with these 2 bloods, although the KHC shapes differed. The rankings were polyvinyl chloride [PVC] > Silastic .simeq. polyethylene > polyether urethane, with PVC most hemolytic. In another sequence for examining materials effects, 5 different bloods were used to compare the hemolytic properties of Teflon, nylon, and polyethylene disks. Although the KHC for the 3 disks bore different relationships to each other with each different blood, extrapolation of data beyond 6000 s suggested a ranking of Teflon > nylon > polyethylene.